3 reasons why Spain needs qualified English teachers NOW!

It may seem counterintuitive that a country known for its recent economic difficulties and high levels of unemployment would be recruiting more English teachers than ever before – but the economic crisis is the first of three reasons why this is happening.

Listing English as a basic requirement for any job divides the number of applicants for that job in half – so with more people than ever applying for each job, employers are doing just that. It is not uncommon to have to do part of your job interview in English even if you will probably never use English in your job! And with ever increasing job instability in many sectors, English language skills are more and more necessary.

The Bolonia Plan might mean nothing to you but it is all too familiar to Spanish university students as it requires graduates to pass a B1 (intermediate) exam in a foreign language before they can receive their degree certificate. Preparatory courses for B1 exams and intensive courses have become very popular among students. A B1 or B2 qualification is also a necessity for any graduate training programmes that recent graduates wish to access after their university studies.

Finally, to prepare children better for this ever-increasing English speaking future, many schools are turning bilingual and need more English teachers to help with this change. Whether assisting teachers who are teaching their subjects bilingually, training teachers in language studies or working as a private tutor to help children with their increasingly bilingual homework and general English level, the demand for English teachers for children also looks set to continue to grow.

We did live in Spain for a while but I became disillusioned when I couldn’t get a TEFL job. We were living in Coin. We’re we living in the wrong area? If so where are the better places to go? We would prefer to be in southern Spain. Thanks

Hi Lyn,
Thanks for your comment!
Things have changed a lot in Spain over the last couple of years and there are currently more jobs than qualified teachers! Try looking at TEFL job vacancy sites, for example, Spainwise. Most schools recruit between April and July for the following academic year so now is the perfect time to email your CV to schools in the area where you would like to work.
Most schools require either the Trinity College TESOL qualification (which we run here in Cádiz) or the Cambridge CELTA. Along with the demand for more English teachers has also come the demand for better qualified teachers so it’s a good idea to make sure you have the qualification that will get you the type of jobs you want.
Good luck on finding your perfect job!